Expecting the Worst, Hoping for Something
covering burma and southeast asia
Friday, March 29, 2024
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VIEWPOINT

Expecting the Worst, Hoping for Something


By KYAW ZWA MOE NOVEMBER, 2010 - VOL.18, NO.11


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So despite our skepticism, we will look to several factors surrounding the election for an indication of whether at least some progress has been made.

First, we will look to whether the majority of the pro-democracy parties such as the NDF, the Democratic Party (Myanmar) and the non-government allied ethnic parties win a high percentage of seats in the constituencies they contest. Second, we will look to whether Aung San Suu Kyi is actually released on Nov. 13, the date she is scheduled to be set free after 18 months under house arrest. Third, we will look to whether all of the more than 2,100 political prisoners—including ethnic leaders and former student leaders—are released.

Even here, however, history has taught us not to underestimate the ruling generals’ ability to manipulate events for their own benefit. And even if opposition groups have seats in parliament and Suu Kyi and other political prisoners are released, the new government, which most believe will be dominated by the junta’s current ministers and military leaders, will most likely use all means at its disposal, beginning with the 2008 Constitution, to muzzle and restrict them.

Recently, US State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley said: “We will watch events as they unfold in Burma and hope that the new government will take a different approach than it has in the past.” We are afraid that the US and the international community will fall into the junta’s trap by recognizing the results of this sham election.

Such a “different approach” referred to by Crowley must allow opposition voices to be heard in parliament and must include the release of Suu Kyi and the other political prisoners. If the international community recognizes the new government as legitimate before these things take place, it will be a betrayal of the 55 million people who live in Burma.



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